We know how busy you are. So once a month we'll pick one topic to highlight and offer some tips and ideas for you to explore. We hope that these In Focus features will help you get organized, find new resources, and make your work-life juggling act go a bit more smoothly. This month, Work It, Mom! focuses on having fun with your kids, with ideas for activities and projects that make the most of the warmer weather.
1.) Free workshops. Large home-improvement chains like Home Depot and Lowes offer free in-store clinics and online seminars on how to do eveyrthing from painting properly to building birdhouses. Check out Home Depot's kid-friendly offerings and Lowes' "Build and Grow" clinics for more information and to find a store near you.
2.) Soak up some culture. A membership to your local children's or science museum will often pay for itself in just a couple of visits, but did you know that the same membership can get you in to museums in other cities as well? Check out the reciprocal admissions agreements your local place may have with museums in other cities; the Association of Science-Technology Centers (ASTC) and the American Zoo and Aquarium association are two good places to start.
3.) Get creative. Enchanted Learning offers a huge selection of printable worksheets, easy-to-read books, online activities, and craft projects for kids of all ages, whether you're homeschooling or just looking to keep your kids' brains active during summer vacation.
4.) Do a little research. Kids Off the Couch is a weekly newsletter offering ways for parents to connect with their kids over films and cultural events; check out their weekly "Popcorn Adventures" to find ways to get more out of what your kids are watching.
5.) Keep it local. Go City Kids is a great parents' guide to what's cool for kids on a local level.
